We’ve nearly all been in that awkward situation before - the first time visiting friends, and
walking in to their brand new kitchen and seeing greens, yellows, or browns you’d think were
ripped right from the 70s. “Isn’t it gorgeous?” they ask, as your puzzled face figures out how to
answer honestly, but respectfully.
Getting creative and being experimental can work for some, but most will often stumble in their design choices in the quest for being “unique”. You don’t need to go overboard to be unique - your kitchen as a reflection of your true tastes is what already makes it unique. Let’s talk about how the gold standard of kitchens continues to be designed with white.
White Isn’t Just /A/ Colour
It’s a myriad of colours! Okay, while technically they’re all labelled “off-white”, these subtle
variations can be used strategically to make each part of your kitchen pop from one another.
Think about those pure white cabinets with a shade just a pinch darker than your island
countertop. The impressive, striking contrast between a stainless steel fridge and slight off-white cupboards truly showcases the might of your refrigerator.
Highlighting The Little Things
White has the wonderful advantage of being a stunning, conceptual colour when it wants to be
the center of attention, but also acts as a neutral background to help the small, personalized
aspects of your kitchen stand out and look their best. Dishes, cookware, art pieces, plants - you name it. Your personality shines through the accent pieces and looks beautiful when in a pristine, well-lit kitchen.
Bigger Is Better...?
Light can do some incredible trickeries with our eyes. In a well-lit, white kitchen, our eyes
perceive significantly more space. While the square footage might not correlate to what our
eyes tell us, big and bright spaces help you feel like you have more room than a dark, yellow
kitchen with poor lighting where it feels cramped. This perception of more space has the
wonderful two-fold bonus of not just making you happy, but your wallet as well when you go to
sell.
They’re A Classic For A Reason
Just as Citizen Kane and Jaws are still studied in film schools, and The Beatles still get played on the radio, white has consistently proven itself to stand the test of time. White kitchens have the incredible talent of holding up in older-style kitchens in a way that most other colours simply can’t. It can often be deceiving how old a kitchen is if you’re only looking at the surface. On the other side of holding up, they’re capable of reflecting what’s modern, what’s “ultra-modern” and experimental, and what’s on the horizon. Renovating your kitchen with a focus on whites and off-whites ensures your kitchen will stand the test of time, appearing bigger and brighter to any prospective buyers.
Are you ready to start renovating your home to better suit your changing needs? George Martin of Well Balanced Designs is one of Vancouver’s leading Design-Build experts, with over 46 years of experience in construction and renovations. He is familiar with Vancouver’s building types and materials, from basement suites to laneway homes and Yaletown condos to Westside single-family homes and larger homes on the North Shore. Schedule a call with George today to discuss your needs.
